Infantry Training Centre (British Army)
| Infantry Training Centre Catterick | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1995-Present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Training |
| Role | Infantry Training |
| Size | Three battalions |
| Part of | Army Recruiting and Training Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Catterick |
The Infantry Training Centre (ITC) is a unit of the British Army administered by HQ School of Infantry responsible for both basic and advanced training of Soldiers and Officers joining the infantry.
History
ITC Catterick assumed overall responsibility for all infantry phase 2 training from the three Infantry Training Battalion sites at Catterick, Strensall and Ouston on 1 May 1995.[1] As of May 2002 the ITC assumed full control of all infantry phase 1 and 2 training for the Regular Army in a single Combat Infantryman's Course (CIC).[2] ITC Catterick is also responsible for the Infantry Battle School (Brecon), and the Support Weapons School (Warminster). ITC Catterick is the predominant user of the Warcop Training Area.[3]
Training regime
The Infantry Training Centre (ITC) Catterick is the primary training location for all recruits who want to join the infantry and is where the Combat Infantryman's Course (CIC) is conducted. The CIC combines Phase 1 and Phase 2 infantry training (junior soldiers destined for the infantry continue to receive Phase 1 training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate). ITC Catterick is divided into three Battalions of which two are Infantry Training Battalions (ITB) and one is a support Battalion (ITC).
- 1st Infantry Training Battalion is responsible for training soldiers destined to join the regiments of the Queen's Division, Prince of Wales' Division, the Royal Irish Regiment and The Rifles, King's Division and the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The 1st Battalion has five training companies:[4]
- Queen's Division Company
- Prince of Wales's Division Company
- Rifles Training Company
- King's Division Company
- Royal Regiment of Scotland Training Company
- 2nd Infantry Training Battalion has responsibility for training recruits who will join one of the regiments of the Guards Division, the Parachute Regiment and the Brigade of Gurkhas. 2 ITB is also responsible for the Phase 2 training for junior entry recruits from the Army Foundation College, as well as training for the infantry elements of the Army Reserve.[5]
- Guards Training Company
- Parachute Regiment Training Company
- Gurkha Training Company
- Anzio Company
- The ITC Support Battalion is the ITC's primary support unit, dealing with logistic and medical support. The battalion is structured to provide maximum support throughout the ITC and consists of the following departments:[6]
- Headquarter (HQ) Company
- Hook VC Company (discharged soldiers)
- Gym
- Army School of Ceremonial
- Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
- Quartermaster's (QMs) Department
- G7 Training
- 400 Troop, Royal Logistic Corps
Combat Infantryman's Course
The Combat Infantryman's Course (CIC) is the standard framework course on which all infantry training in the British Army is based. The standard course lasts 26 weeks, in which the basics of infantry soldiering are taught:[7]
- Personal administration
- Weapons training
- Drill
- Fieldcraft
- Fitness
- Teamwork
Both the Guards and Parachute Regiment have extended versions of the CIC that last an additional two weeks; new recruits to the Foot Guards undertake an extended Drill program as a consequence of the required standards necessary for them to undertake regular public duties,[8] while the Parachute Regiment course has two weeks of additional fitness work.[9] The course for new Gurkha recruits lasts for 37 weeks, and follows not only the CIC program, but also has elements of English language training and cultural orientation for new recruits to living and working in the United Kingdom.[10]
References
- ↑ "Memorandum from Mrs Lynn Farr". Hansard. 14 March 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "Phase 1 Basic training for recruits". Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ↑ "Public access to military training areas", MoD website
- ↑ "1st Infantry Training Battalion". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "2nd Infantry Training Battalion". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "ITC Support Battalion". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "Combat Infantryman's Course - Line Infantry". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "Combat Infantryman's Course - Foot Guards". Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ↑ "Combat Infantryman's Course - Para". Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ↑ "Gurkha training". Retrieved 24 June 2015.
External links
- Infantry Training Centre Catterick (ITC Catterick) - on British Army official website